Israel reached their first ever Davis Cup semifinal on Saturday, eliminating Russia from the tournament with a victory in the doubles tie of their Davis Cup quarterfinal.

The Israeli duo of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram gave Israel an unassailable 3-0 lead by defeating Russia’s Igor Kunitsyn and Marat Safin 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6, 6-4 in the doubles. The Israelis had surged to an unexpected 2-0 lead on Friday in the first round of singles matches.

Meanwhile the United States gave itself a lifeline against Croatia as they prevented the Croats from clinching a place in the semifinals by winning their doubles match. Top doubles duo, Mike and Bob Bryan, dominated the Croatian duo of Roko Karanusic and Lovro Zovko to take a a 6-3, 6-1, 6-win.

Argentina’s Davis Cup semifinal ambitions hung in the balance after the second day of their quarterfinal against the Czech Republic as the Czech team marched to a 2-1 lead in the tie. The Czech team stole the lead courtesy of Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych’s 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 win over Jose Acasuso and Leonardo Mayer.

In Marbella Spain opened up a 2-1 lead over Germany as their doubles pairing of Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco defeated Nicolas Kiefer and Mischa Zverev 6-3. 7-6, 6-7, 6-3.

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